Vacuum-electrode for therapeutic purposes.



N0. 584,326. Patented UC. 8, |901. R. H. WAPPLEB.

VACUUM ELECTRUDE FOR THERAPEUTIG PURPOSES.

(Applieaeiun med nu. 5, 1901.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REINI'IOLD II. VAPPLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VACUUM-ELECTRODE FOR THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent N0. 684,326, dated October8, 1001.

Application iiled March 5, 1901.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, REINHOLD H. WAPPLER, a citizen of the United States,residing in the borough of Manhattan, city and State of New York, haveinvented an Improvement in 'Vacuum Electrodes for TherapeuticPurposes,of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore a vacuum-electrode of vitreous material has been employed Ainelectrotherapeutcs for effecting electrical asepsis and stimulation bypassing high-tension currents through said electrode, and therebydecomposing the air surrounding the same into ozone, which when broughtinto the proximity of any diseased surface quickly oxidizes all toxicmatter present therein. In these electrodes it is general to provide anintegral insulating-handle and also one pole by which the interior ofthe tube of the electrode is connected electrically with one terminal ofthe source of the high-tension currents employed.

My present invention relates to vacuumelectrodes used for therapeuticpurposes, and in carrying out my invention I dispense with aninsulating-handle and also with the unipolar terminal commonly employedin electrodes of this type. The electrode comprises a tube of vitreousmaterial, preferably glass, in which is a vacuum. One end of the tube isblown to the shape most desirable in the treatment of any one disease.Hence in anulnber of tubes the shape of this end will be as varied asthe number of diseases to be treated by said tubes. The other end of thevacuumtube and from which the air is exhausted is drawn to a point whenfused to close the tube, and over this end a cylindrical metal sleeve isfitted, forming a support or handle for the electrode and at the sametime a conductor by which the current enters the vacuum-tube.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of one form of myimproved electrode. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection taken centrally through Fig. l. Fig. Ltshows an electrode ofmodified shape. Fig. 5 shows the features embraced in the electrodesused heretofore.

ct represents a tube of glass or other vitreous material, having one enda blown to any desired form. In Figs. l, 2, and 3 I have illus- SerialNo. 49,668. (No model.)

trated a bell-shaped form; but I do not limit myself to this form, as itis advantageous to vary the shape of this end according to the diseaseto be treated and the location thereof, and it is therefore desirable tohave a number of similar tubes with differentlyformed ends for anoperators use. The other end of the tubeb is advantageously drawn to apoint in all cases When a vacuum is produced in the tube and no enteringwire or pole is employed. I employ a metal tube or sleeve c,longitudinally slotted at d for part of its length and having an openingor end slot transversely thereof, thereby constituting in the tube ctwoadjacent yielding parts. This metal tube tits over the end b of thevacuumtube to a liberal extent, inclosing the teat at the point offusion after forming the vacuum, and the tube forms a handle for theelectrode and at the same time protects the said teat from injury. It isadapted to slightly yield to the inserted electrode to conform theretoand closely embrace the same. This yielding function of the tube ccauses the same to conform to slight differences in the sizes of theelectrode-tubes, which in fitting a common handle are interchangeablewith one another.

Fig. 4.- shows the end d of the vacuum-tube as spherical in shape.

Fig. 5 illustrates the electrodes used heretofore, having aninsulating-handle e and a projection fused after producing a vacuum andan adjacent unipolar terminal f to be connected with one terminal of thesource of the high-tension currents. With these devices there Wasliability of the current passing to the teat and melting or rupturingthe same, and so breaking down the vacuum.

In practice the high-tension currents necessary to operate thevacuum-electrode may be produced in any manner whatsoever-"for instance,a Ruhmkorff coil may be employed. In this case the current -is inducedin the secondary in the usual manner. One terminal of the secondary isconnected electrically to a plate upon Which the patient to be treatedis placed. The other terminal of the secondary is insulated. The circuitis completed from the plate upon which the patient is placed by thepatient, the vacuum electrode,

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and to the insulated terminal of the secondary through the air. Thus intreatment the patient is placed on or closely adjacent to the plate, andthe operator grasping the electrode by the handle applies the end of theelectrode to the diseased parts and is not hampered by Wires orelectrical connections of any kind.

I claim as my inventionl. An electrode of vitreous material containing avacuum and having a metalY sleeve fitted over a part of said electrodeforming a handle for the same, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electrode for electrotherapeutio purposes, the combination witha glass tube of smooth,even eXterior,containing a vacuum, of a metalsleeve fitting over one end of said tube and forming a handle for theelectrode, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electrode for electrotherapeutio purposes,the combination ot aglass tube containing a vacuum and having one end blown to serve as acontact-surface, of a yielding Vsleeve ot metal tting over theother endof said tube forming a handle for the electrode, substantially as setforth.

4. In an electrode for electrotherapeutic purposes,the combination of aglass tube conto serve as a contact-surface, of ayielding sleeve ofmetal fitting over the other end ofY n said tube forming ahandle for theelectrode,

said sleeve of metal having a long-itudinallyarranged slot with an endtransverse slotV forming tWo yielding portions, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

' taining a vacuum and` having one end blown i 5. An electrode ofvitreous material con- Y Y taining a vacuum and having a metal sleeveelectrode, forming a handle for the same and fitting to a liberal extentover a part of said i Y 40 Y inclosing the teat at the end of theelectrodea f

